Foreign Exchange Payment Operations Specialist

UMB Bank•Kansas City, MO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Electronic Payments Operations team is responsible for the accurate, secure and timely execution of money movement in and out of the bank, including ACH, Wire Transfers and Instant Payments. The team ensures regulatory compliance, manages daily reconciliation and mitigates operational risks associated with payments. As the FX Payment Operations Specialist, you will have responsibility and oversight for post-trade currency transactions, ensuring accurate and timely settlement and compliance for UMB and our clients. This is a subset of the overall responsibilities which will include leading and participating in multiple projects & initiatives assigned by Bank Operations leadership. This role is hybrid (Mon through Thu on-site / Fri remote) for candidates in the Kansas City metropolitan area and open to qualified remote candidates outside of the Kansas City area. However, the remote location must be within the US.

Requirements

Strong understanding of international payment systems and SWIFT message formats (MT103, MT202, MT300, etc.) and global currency markets.
Proficiency in FX trading platforms and financial software.
Familiarity with FX products (spot, forward, swaps, options).
Knowledge of AML, sanction screening, and regulatory requirements for cross-border transactions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and banking operations systems.
High attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and ability to work under tight deadlines.
Ability to utilize technical aptitude that allows for quick learning of company systems, platforms, and products.
Strong customer service skills.
Ability to work autonomously, escalating issues or problems as appropriate.
Ability to recognize errors, issues, special requests, or inconsistencies in daily operations to solve or escalate to appropriate associate or manager.

Nice To Haves

Accuracy and attention to detail in high-volume, high-value environments.
Adaptability to changing regulatory, technological, and market environments.
Ability to understand processes end to end and cross-functional work with other operational units.

Responsibilities

Oversight of incoming and outgoing FX payments across multiple currencies and settlement systems
Oversight of trade details that are entered into the bank’s operations system in alignment with front-office confirmations.
Ensure timely settlement of FX spot, forward, swap, and option transactions.
Perform daily reconciliations of nostro/vostro accounts and investigate discrepancies.
Resolve settlement failures, payment delays, and trade breaks in coordination with counterparties, custodians, and internal teams.
Maintain accurate records for audit and regulatory purposes.
Ensure adherence to internal risk controls, operational procedures, and anti-money laundering (AML) / sanctions screening requirements.
Escalate unusual activity or potential fraud to compliance and management promptly.
Support compliance with global regulatory reporting requirements.
Provide operational support to corporate and institutional business parnters & clients for FX transactions.
Liaise with front-office traders, relationship managers, and treasury teams to ensure smooth trade execution.
Address client inquiries regarding payment status, transaction charges, and settlement timelines.
Prepare and present reports on foreign exchange activities for presentations to senior & executive management.
Develop and maintain relationships with partner banks.
Provide training and support to other team members on foreign exchange matters.
Contribute to process improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and reduce settlement risk.
Lead and participate in testing and implementation of system upgrades or new payment platforms.

Benefits

Paid Time Off
a 401(k) matching program
annual incentive pay
paid holidays
a comprehensive company sponsored benefit plan including medical, dental, vision, and other insurance coverage
health savings, flexible spending, and dependent care accounts
adoption assistance
an employee assistance program
fitness reimbursement
tuition reimbursement
an associate wellbeing program
an associate emergency fund
and various associate banking benefits